Road scraper



Oct. 28, 1930. E. A. WHEELER ROAD SCRAPER Filed July 12, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet l m 4 7 r a Oct. 28, 1930. W L 1,779,650 I ROAD SCRAPER Patented Oct. 28, 1930 UNITED srn'rss EARL A. WHEELER, or Los ANeELns, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR'TO STANDARD Bonn PATENT OFFICE MAINTENANCE COMPANY, OF LOS ANGELES, OAL I FOR-NIA, A CORPORATION OF NEVADA VROAD SCRAPER Application filed July 12, 1926. Serial No. 121,835.

This invention relates to road scrapersand.

is more particularly directed to a road scraper or planer adapted for use in scraping or planing surfaced roads to remove surface irregularities, such as bumps and the like.

In the scraping or planing of roads, particularly roads formed of a. concrete or like base and having a surface of asphaltum or like material, it is essential that there be pro vided a machine in which the scraping and planing means may be accurately adjusted to the crown of the road and that means be provided for gradually breaking large ruts, bumps or projections of this surface covering so that the entire planing mechanism does not come into contact with the said irregularities at once. The contacting of the planing or scraping mechanism with these irregularities at one time results in the break ing of the bond between the surface covering of asphalt or the like and the base of concrete or the like, so that the surface covering may be bodily removed from the road and the scraper or planer does not act to cut away the irregularities.

It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an apparatus for scraping or planing roads, in which means are provided for H cutting in steps or gradually the irregularities from the surface of the roadwayso that at notime does the cutting or planing mecha nism come into straight line contact transverse to the road with the irregularity so as to tend to break the bond between the surface covering of the road and the base thereof, and in which apparatus means are provided for accurately adjusting the planing mechanism to the contour of the crown of theroad.

Another object of this invention is to provide means for locking individual cutting teeth in position in the planing mechanism so that the same will not become loosened during the planing operation. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide a frame in which the planing mechanism is mounted, and which frame is adjustable relative to the frame of the road scraper so as to permit adjustment of the planing mechanism to correspond with the'crown of the road, and which frame is so constructed that when the same is'adjusted' relative to the frame of the road scraping machine, thesaid frame, and hence the cutters or planers mounted therein will not be permitted toinove transversely relative to the frame of the road scraper but will be firmly held and maintained therein. l 1

Another object of this invention is llO QI'O'.

vide'an apparatus for carrying out the afore-' said objects that is of simple and inexpensive construction and which may be easily and accurately manipulated.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will be apparent-from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof as illustrated in the'accompany' ing drawings, in which drawings:

Figure lis a top planvi'e-w of a road scraper embodyingthis invention.

F1gure2 1s a top plan view of the scraper or planer mechanism embodied in this invention, illustrating the control mechanism for adjusting the frame thereof relative to the frame of the road. scraper as brokenaway.

Figure 3 is a front eleva'tionthe'reof taken substantially on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentalside elevation thereof. a

Figure 5 is. a fragmental sectional view ofthe control mechanism for regulating the adjustment of the planer frame relative to the frame of the road scraper.

Figure 6 is a fragmental sectional View illustrating means embodied in this inventionfor locking the teeth within the planer frame.

Figure 7 is a sectional top plan view there of taken substantially on the line v7' 7 of- V Figure 6. V

In the preferred embodiment of this invention, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, 1 illustrates spaced apart frame members which may be of any desired or preferred construction, such, for example, as illustrated in my copending application-for road working machine, filed December 10, 1925, Serial No. 74,450. The spaced frame members 1 are secured together at their ends by transversely extending frame members 2 and 3, platform e, the adjustable frame units 5 and 6, the disc adjustment frames 7 and 8 and the scraper blade frame unit 9, all of which construction may be as illustrated in my copending application above referred to or may be of any other desired or preferred construction.

The adjustable frame unit 5 provides means for adjusting the forward end of the spaced frame members 1 on the wheels 10 relative to the surface of the roadway. The adjustable frame unit 7 provides means for forming a complete or entire adjustment of the disc cutters 11 relative to the surface of the highway or road. The adjustable frame unit 8 forms a means for adjusting the angular position of the discs 12 relative to the surface of the highway, and which discs 12 may be employed for the purpose of breaking up the material cut by the planer mechanism 13 which will hereinafter be described. The

adjustment frame 9 provides a means for adjusting the relation of the scraper blade 10 relative to the surface of the road which scraper blade 10 is for the purpose of scraping and removing from the surface or high way all minor irregularities so as to leave a perfectly smooth surface thereon and for placing the material cut by the other cutting members of the road scraper to one side thereof and through an opening 14. The frame mechanism 6 provides a means for adjusting the wheels 15 of the road scraper relative to the surface of the highway so as to adjust the position of the rear ends of the frame members 1, all of which adjustment frames and scraper mechanisms are fully described in my copending application above referred to.

The planer mechanism, to which this invention is particularly directed, comprises a frame 16 in which the planer mechanism formed by the teeth 17 is mounted. The planer mechanism is preferably of the shape of a Vshaped wedge so that the forward. tooth or cutter 18 enters the projection, bump or the like in the road surface prior to the entrance into the bump projection or irregularity of the road surface of the immediate adjacent teeth lying to the rear thereof. This manner of mounting the planer teeth pro- VlClGS a planer which forms a cut progressively increasing in width. the advanced tooth 18 forming an opening or line of cleavage into which the following teeth 19, 20, etc. follow. By this means, the teeth are prevented from entering the surface irregu-- larity as a unit, overcoming the tendency inherent in planer mechanisms as heretofore commonly employed, to break the bond be tween the road surface covering of asphalt and the like and the concrete or like material base. The planer mechanism provided by the teeth 18, 19, 20, etc. cuts a regular and smooth cut over the surface of the road without danger of breaking the bond between the covering and the base of the road at any point.

The frame 16 is preferably formed as a casting having a front transverse section 21 which connects with the front corner sections 22 and which is formed with inwardly diverging sections 28 which terminate in a central tooth supporting section 24, which central tooth supporting section 24 branches outwardly from the center thereof in sections 25 along which cutting teeth of the planer cutter are mounted, and which sections 25 terminate in rearward corner sections 26.

Ateach corner of the frame 16, there secured to the frame members 1 a post 27, which post 27 may be secured to the frame members 1 by any suitable or desirable means, such the bolts 28. The posts 27 are adapted to be engaged on their adjacent surfaces by means o adjustment guide blocks 29, which are mounted in position at the forward ends 22 of the frame 16, and at their rearward end by transversely extending guide projections 80. The guide projections 30 have mounted on their engaging surfaces by means of. pins 31 hardened steel blocks 32 which form the engaging or bearing surfaces between the posts 27 and the frame 16 at the rear corners. The bearing blocks 29 at the forward end of the frame are provided with like hardened steel bearing strips The bearing blocks 29 are adjustably secured in position to the frame 16 by means of bolts 34; which pass through slots 35 formed in the end sections 22 and by means of lock bolts 36 which are screw-threaded into the lateral projections 37 formed on the end sections 22 so as to adjust the hearing blocks 29 to firmly secure the frame 16 between the posts 27.

In order to permit angular adjustment of the frame 16 and hence the planing cutter 17 relative to the frame members 1, the forward end sections 22 of the frame 16 are formed curved as illustrated at 38, (see Figure At the center of the arc of which curve 38 is formed are the pivot pins 39, by means of which the frame 16 is adj ustably supported as will hereinafter be pointed out.

Means are provided for holding the frame 16 from moving laterally between the frame members 1, which means are preferably of the following construction:

The frame 16 at its forward ends 22 is curved, as illustrated at 38. The rear ends 26 of the frame 16 are also curved to provide engaging surfaces l-O. The center of the radii of the curves upon which the curved surfaces 38 and 40 are formed is the pivot point from which the frame 16 is supported. This manner of construction insures that at all. times the surfaces 38 and 40 will be engaged with the inner surfaces of the frame members 1. or the appended pw ts of the frame members 1 such. for example, as the forward posts 27. The frame 16 being at all times engaged between the frame members 1,. it is not pos 'sible for the same to move transverselybee tween the frame members. 1 and, therefore,

the planer members. carried by the frame 16 are prevented from oscillating as they perform their planing function.

Means. are provided for accurately adjusting the planer frame 16. to adjust the. planer cutter 1'? to. the exact crown of the roadway or. surface over which the scraper is being drawn. This adjustmentis. particularly important in the scraping of road surfaces which are bonded to a base in orderthat there may be removed from the surface only that amount of the surface material. that is ab.- solutely necessary in order to. provide a smooth. surface-way. Accuracy, of adjust ment in this operation isso important that it is generally customary to provide two work. ers to adjust the frame of this machine during the time it is. being operated. One. of the workers is employedinadjusting one side of the planer cutter 17 tov the crown of the road whilethe other is employed in adjusting the position of the opposite side of the planer cutter 17 relative to the surface of the road. In order to obtain this accurate adjustment I prefer to employ the following means:

Mounted upon the upper extension of the posts 27. are transversely. extending adjustment. frame members 41 and longitudinally extending connecting frame members 42, and a central connecting frame 43'. Mounted. upon the central connecting frame 43 aregear r housings 44, in. each of which gear housings.

44, there is mounted a bevel gear 45 which is. keyed to. the shaft 46', to the upper end of which shaft 46 is secured an operating wheel.

47 The shaft 46 isijournaled in a bearing.

provided by the base-plate 48 and abearing provided by the gear housings 44 and the shaft 46 is maintained against endwise motion by means of'collars 49 which are secured to theshaft 46.v

Mounted in bearings 50., supported within the gear housing 44,. are shafts 51 and 52,

which shafts 51 and 52 extend from the gear housing 44. to corner gear housings 53 and54.

Mounted on the ends of the shafts 51 and 521 within the gear housing 44 are beveled gears 55 and 56, both of which mesh with thebev eled gear 45.

Each of the operating, wheels 47 controls.

the ustment of one side of the planer frame 16' from the opposite corners thereof by sub- 53in positionto mesh with a gear 58, which.

gear 5.8-is keyed or otherwise secured to a: threaded 160x59, through which box 59 a screw 60 isthreaded, The screw 60 extends:

through. the gear housihgjdand at its. lower end is provided with an eye 61 through which a pin 62 extends. The pin 62 is screw-threaded into the frame 16, and the eye 61 extends into a slot or recess 63 formed in-tl'ie res-pee: tive corner of the frame 16. i i

I The planer cutter 17 is preferably composed of a plurality of cutter bars 64 whichare provided with sharpened planing points 65,; each of which bar cutters 6-4 is mounted within a recessformed in the cutter frame 16 so as to present a continuous wedge shape cutting edge where the same engages the road surface, with the possible exception of the space provided between the forward cutters 18 and 19 and the opposite rearwardly positioned and outwardly staggeredcutters 20.

Means are provided for locking the barcutters 6.4 firmly in: position; within the-irrespectiverecesses formed in the cutter frame; 16,,which means are preferablyof the fo1lowing and similar construction for eaclr of the bar cutters 64 so thatonly one thereof willy be described.

The bar cutter 64 is moi cess 66 formed in the cutter frame 16 and a pair of bolts 67 pass through boxes formed: adjacent the recesses 66. and which bolts 6''? pass through engaging blocks 68 which. have innerengaging surfaces 69- formed to the con-- tour of the shanks of the bar cutter 64. Mounted at the rear of the recesses 66 are chamfered block members/Z0 which comprise heads71 having chamfered engaging ends 7 2- and shanks. 73- which fit within bores 74 fermedin the frame 16. immediately at the. rear of the recesses 66.. Nuts/Z5 arevscrewthreaded to. the bolts 6% so. as toclampthe enagaging blocks 68 into engagement with the;-

shanks. of the bar cutters 64.. By this means, the shanks of the bar cutters 64-are firmly clamped and locked. in positionv within their respective recesses. 66 so as. to'prevent ver tical' displacement of the base. and. so as, to insurev an even cutting surface thezplaner cutter 17.,

It will be obvious from. theiforegoing that.

I have provided a road scraper in which a planer is mounted Whichmaybe accurately, adjusted to the crown of'the. road, and which.

planer cutter is firmly maintained in position between the frame. members 1 of, the road scraper so as to be practically laterally immovable, and in which planer there i 'spr0- vided a wedge shaped cuttercomposedf of a plurality of cutting memhers, the forward of which will cut a path through-projections orrbumpsformed in? the road surface so that each of the rearward-1y succeeding cutting- Inembers will only cut its portion: of the" bump. or projection away and; will not tend to remove the road surface covering from? the" base. Having fully described a preferred embo diment. ofmy invention, it istobe' understood that 15 do, not. wish tobe limited to. the ex ted within a re-.

act details herein set forth, which may obviously be varied without departing from the spirit of my invention as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a road scraper, the combination of a pair of spaced frame members, a planer frame mounted intermediate the said frame members, means for separately adjusting the sides of the planer frame relative to the said frame members, and the said planer frame being formed at its sides so as to engage the said frame members in any adjusted position to prevent relative lateral movement of the planer frame and the said frame members.

2. In a road scraper, the combination of a pair of spaced frame members, a planer frame mounted intermediate the said frame members, means mounted on the said frame members for pivotally adjusting the opposite sides of the planer frame vertically relative to the said frame members, and the said planer frame being formed curved at its sides so as to engage the said frame members in any adjusted position to hold the said planer frame from lateral movement relative to the said frame members.

3. In a road scraper, the combination of a pair of spaced frame members, a planer frame mounted intermediate the said frame members, cutter teeth supported by and an ranged in V-shape upon the said planer frame, and means mounted on the said frame members and pivotally connected at opposite sides of the said planer frame for independently adjusting the opposite sides of the planer frame vertically relative to the said frame members.

4. In a road scraper, the combination of a pair of spaced frame members, a planer frame mounted intermediate and in engagement with the said frame members, cutter teeth mounted in V-shape in the said planer frame and said teeth being mounted in the said planer frame in two sections so that the forward section thereof will form a line of cleavage through a road surface irregularity prior to the coming in contact of the second set of cutters with the saidsurface irregularity, and means mounted on the said frame members for pivotally adjusting the opposite sides of the planer frame relative to the said frame members.

5. In a road scraper, the combination of spaced frame members, a planer frame mounted intermediate the said frame members, cutter teeth supported by and arranged in V-shape upon the said planer frame, the said teeth being mounted in recesses formed in said planer frame in stepped expanding relation from the forward to the rearward end thereof, means mounted in each recess for locking the cutter bar therein, and means for separately adjusting the sides of the planer frame vertically relative to the said frame members.

6. In a road scraper, the combination of a pair of spaced frame members, a planer frame mounted intermediate and in engagement with the said frame members, cutter teeth supported by and arranged in V-shape upon the said planer frame, the said cutter teeth members being mounted in recesses formed in stepped expanding relation from the forward to the rearward end of the planer frame and comprising a front and a rear section, the front section of bar cutter members to form aline of cleavage through a road surface irregularity prior to the coming in contact of the second set of bar cutters with the said surface irregularity, and means for independent adjustment of the sides of the planer frame vertically relative to the said frame members.

7. In a road scraper, the combination of spaced frame members, a planer frame mounted intermediate the said frame members, a V-shaped cutter supported by the said planer frame, an inverted Ushaped frame mounted on the said spaced frame members, means mounted on the inverted U-shaped frame member and connected with the corners of the opposite sides of the said planer frame for separately adjusting the opposite sides of the planer frame vertically relative to the said frame members, and the said planer frame being formed curved at its engaging sides so as to engage the said spaced frame members in any adjusted position to hold the said planer frame from lateral movement relative to the said frame members.

8. In a road scraper, the combination of a pair of spaced frame members, a planer frame mounted intermediate the said frame members, means for pivotally supporting the said planer frame at the corners thereof, and the said planer frame being formed curved at its sides, the said curves being of a diameter equal to the distance from the point of pivotal. support of the opposite sides of the said planer frame, and means connected with the pivotal supports for separately adjusting the sides of the planer frame vertically relative to the said frame members.

9. In a road scraper, comprising a planer frame, a plurality of bar cutter members mounted in recesses formed in stepped expanding relation from the forward to the rearward end of the planer frame; means to lock said cutter members in said recesses; and spaced chamfered block members mounted in the recesses to the rear of the said cutter members to prevent vertical displacement of said cutter members.

10. In a road scraper, the combination of a pair of spaced frame members; a planer frame mounted intermediate the said frame members, means mounted on said frame members for adjusting the planer frame vertically relative to said frame members; and the said planer frame being formed at its sides'so as to engage the said frame members in any adjusted position to prevent relative lateral movement of the planer frame and the frame members. i

11. In aroad scraper, comprising a planer frame, a plurality of bar cutters mounted in recesses formed in stepped expanding relation from the forward to the rearward end of the planer frame, blocks engaging said cutter members, means to secure said blocks to said planer frame, there being bores formed in the planer frame at the rear of the recesses for receivlng the cutter members; and chamfered block members mounted in said bores and engaging said cutter members.

12. In a road scraper comprising a planer frame, a plurality of bar cutters mounted in recesses formed in stepped expanding relation from the forward to the rearward end of the planer frame, there being bores formed in the planer frame at the rear of the recesses for receiving the cutter members, chamfered block members mounted in said bores and en-' gaging said cutter members;-and means for securing said cutter members in said recesses and against said chamfered block members.

13. In a road scraper comprising a planer frame, a plurality of bar cutters mounted in recesses formed in stepped expanding rela-..

tion from the forward to the rearward end of the planer frame, there being bores formed in the planer frame atthe rear of the recesses for receiving the cutter members, chamfered block members mounted in said bores and engaging said cutter members, block members engagin said cutter members and means extending from said planer frame and extending through said block members to lock said cutter members in'said recesses and against said chamfered block members.

Signed at Los Angeles, California, this 1st day of July, 1926. V

' EARL A. WHEELER. 

